IMAGE SENSOR WITH IMPROVED LIGHT SENSITIVITY
First Claim
1. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
- a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;
b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group, andc) means for combining similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.
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Abstract
An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors, with the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels with at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit composed only of pixels from the second group of pixels, and including ways to combine similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
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a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group, and c) means for combining similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
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a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group, and c) means for combining pixels of like color from at least three adjacent minimal repeating units. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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20. The image sensor of claim 18 wherein four adjacent minimal repeating units are arranged as follows:
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21. The image sensor of claim 18 wherein four adjacent minimal repeating units are arranged as follows:
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31. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
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a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group, and c) means for combining first group pixels with second group pixels. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
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a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels, the minimal repeating unit having a plurality of cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions; and c) means for combining at least two of the at least two pixels. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
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a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels, the minimal repeating unit having a plurality of cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions; and c) means for combining pixels of like color from at least two of the plurality of cells within the minimal repeating unit. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52)
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51. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:
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a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels, the minimal repeating unit having a plurality of cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions; c) means for combining first group pixels with second group pixels. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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Specification